Etta Soiref Onat

Onat, Prof. Etta Soiref Professor Etta S. Onat, age 88, formerly of Woodbridge, CT, passed away peacefully at home March 16, 2009. Born in Shumsk, Poland on April 25, 1920, Etta was the daughter of the late Rachael Katz Soiref and George Soiref; widow of E. Turan Onat, Ph.D; mother of Yasar Onat, mother-in-law of Wendy Natter and grandmother of Rebecca Onat all of Guilford. Etta is survived by several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. Etta Onat received a Bachelors degree from the Univeristy of Nebraska, a Master's degree from Oberlin College and a Ph.D in English from Brown University. Etta was a retired English Professor and Associate Dean for Humanities at Yale University. She was a proud member of Phi Beta Kappa, Yale University's Elizabethan Club and Around the World Women.Prof. Onat's funeral and interment will be held privately. A public memorial will be scheduled. Arrangements are in care of BEECHER & BENNETT Funeral Home, Hamden, CT. Contributions in her memory may be made to Doctors without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030; New York City Ballet, 20 Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023; or Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven, One Long Wharf Drive, Suite 227, New Haven, CT 06511. Condolences may be sent to the family c/o Wendy Natter, 62 Hahn Road, Guilford, CT, 06437.